Almost Daily Harvest Of Courgettes (Zucchini)

Courgettes seem to attract hate for what a prolific vegetable they are. They are one of the reliable crops where a few plants will keep you in fruits for months so long as you keep picking them. 

 

 We have just a few plants this year and they are producing so much for us. I'm picking this handful of small fruits pretty much every other day at the moment. The trick, of course, is not to turn your back for too long, otherwise they'll be the size of your arm before you know it. 

We love them in a variety of ways, but often sliced thinly in a simple salad, or fried with garlic. Ones I occasionally miss get stuffed or thrown to the chickens as a welcome snack. 

What's your favourite use for this great veggie? Or do you dread the glut?

Dehydrating Courgette/Zucchini

There aren't many certainties in gardening, but I can pretty much guarantee you one - you're going to have too many courgettes! 

I know I certainly have, well mine are summer patty pan squashes, but you get the idea. I hate seeing them go to waste, I have about eight plants producing heavily and the chickens can only eat so many. 

There's lots of chutneys and pickles that call for squashes but I haven't got the inclination at the moment and my pantry is still quite full of last years chutneys, so I looked at other ways I could preserve them.

It was time to crack out the dehydrator.

Cold Courgette Salad

Or Zucchini to the Americans!

I've been loving this salad lately, it's my new favourite and a great way to use up a few courgettes!

It's really simple, use a vegetable speed peeler to create thin strips of courgette, then add a salad dressing of 2/3 olive oil to 1/3 lemon juice (from a lemon not a bottle as it tastes so much better), chuck a bit of feta cheese and a handful of mint leaves in and mix it up. 

I couldn't believe how good this tasted. An easy summer salad!